Wednesday, December 19, 2007

I guess I forgot to give you guys the answers to the movie quotes last night. A ton of you got them right! They were...1. Airplane!2. My Big Fat Greek Wedding3. Better Off Dead4. A Christmas Story5. Breakfast at Tiffanys6. Dirty Dancing7. Ella Enchanted8. Jaws9. Rainman10. The Shawshank Redemption11. The Princess Bride12. Tootsie (some people said A League of Their Own, but I think that quote was more like,"What do you recommend?" in reference to Marla"A lot of night games!")13. When Harry Met Sally14. While You Were Sleeping15. My Big Fat Greek Wedding16. A Christmas Story17. Ferris Buehler's Day Off18. Better Off Dead19. A Christmas Story20. Ghostbusters21. The Princess Bride22. National Lampoons Vacation23. While You Were Sleeping (I totally made a typo on this one! It was supposed to say, "These mashed potatoes are so creamy."24. The Cutting Edge25. The Princess Bride

That was fun, huh? See, it's good to procrastinate. I can come up with all sorts of fun things to do like that. Of course, when I procrastinate and do all sorts of stupid things like come up with a list of dog names for a dog I don't have and am not planning to get, I end up staying up until 3:00am trying to get actual chores done. That happened last night and I woke up this morning so dizzy I couldn't see right. The whole house was pitching and turning and I couldn't stand up straight. Now this wouldn't have been so bad had I been drinking, but I had no excuse for my dizziness. I couldn't even walk a straight line so I opted to keep the kids home from school instead of attempting to drive them there.

It was a great idea to let the kids stay home. As I lay on the couch trying not to throw up because my head was spinning and making me nauseous, it gave the kids a chance to try some fun, learning experiments. They tested the laws of gravity as they threw stuff around the family room. Brooklyn experimented with the effects of toxic materials by filling her diaper and walking around until our eyes started watering and if it's possible, I think I got even more dizzy. They did a little chemistry and mixed different liquids on the kitchen floor. They broke a snowman soap dispenser. They did some cooking and made nachos with potato chips, string cheese, chicken soup, and cantaloupe. I'm pretty sure we've never seen that recipe on Food Network. They dumped out the contents of the bathroom garbage can for unknown reasons, and finally they took the mattress off my oldest daughter's bed. Why not?! This, my friends, is why mom can NEVER get sick. My poor husband came home from work to this insane mess because I didn't do a darn thing today. Every time I stood up, I fell back over and well, that makes it hard to keep up.

66 comments:

I had a similar day, dear Dawn :-) I came home from school this afternoon (rainy day + class Christmas party = Majah headache) and collapsed on my bed for two hours. I woke up to find chalk pastel drawings on the dining room table, hot dog bits on the couch, half eaten candy remnants from the gingerbread houses and stains on the carpet from the mud football game that very clearly came inside. The kids were watching claymation Christmas movies and having a great time! I then spent two hours reclaiming order. Mom did not have such a good time. Sound about right? Cheers and I hope you're feeling better...! ~funjenny

Isn't Vertigo fun?? If you ever have that again try a few doses of Naproxin or Ibuprofen (not all at the same time that is!) Let's hope it doesn't become a common thing ... otherwise they give you med's for the nausea that are not taken by mouth! (if you get my drift) Good Luck and here's hoping that never happens again!

What is it with kids and mattresses? I told my kids to get their buns upstairs and clean up the toxic waste dump that they kept claiming was their bedroom one day. Two hours later I went up to see what they were actually doing (hey, there are five of them and they were out of my hair for two whole hours! Didn't want to disturb that).

My nine year old son had apparently translated "clean room" to mean "make a Tower of Babel in the center of the room out of everything you own and then finish it off by putting your sister's bed mattress on top." Brain damage. That's the only excuse I can think of.

I don't usually hand out medical advice, but I *know* where you're at on this one!! Dramamine (yes, the travel-sickness medication) or the generic "meclizine" (over the counter med, just ask the pharmacist) can really just clear that vertigo/dizzy/sick thing right up. It sounds like you may actually need to go in and get checked, because if you've picked up Labyrinthitis your doc is going to want to treat you. (It happens sometimes after an airplane trip, a virus can cause your inner ear canal to become inflamed and make you feel just as you've described.)

Like I said, I don't usually give out medical advice, but when I had this, I was desperate for it to go away, and I hate the thought of you suffering. Praying for you!Lisa-Anne

You poor thing I know what you mean though I dread getting sick. I am the sort of person that doesnt get sick very often but when I do, I am like you and cannot get up. Thank god for my mother in law she lives an hour away and if I need her she would come and watch the children for me. I am sorry to hear you havent been well though and pray that you will be feeling better really soon.

Hope you feel better soon, don't want to be in bed all troughout christmas now, would you? But I something did pop into my mind... You said you didn't have to play Mary this year because you weren't pregnant... Have you checked that status recently? It might even fall under Murphy's law. Anyways, I do hope that you can be up and about chasing kids again soon. Merry Christmas!!!

It could be Vertigo (stay away from stairs), or an inner-ear infection, or too much salt (foods with sodium). I get it a few times a year, and my whole day is wasted. Keep motion sickness meds around and take those. (I loved the comment from Rick! So true!)

I also get "rich foods of the holidays" hangovers, which present like flu symtoms. Just had one last Monday. I just told my work I had the flu. I look at it as God's way of saying "back off, and remember what the holiday season is really about!"

Hang in there, Dawn! Juggling the blog and (the 2million jobs of) family is enough to make anyone see stars. Take a step back and remember the over-used, but oh-so-true saying of "He won't give you more than you can handle."

Please know that you are joined with the rest of us right now, clawing and screaming our way through what we think we should be doing at this time of year. You know you are loved by those closest to you. Love them back, trust in God, and the rest will fall into place.

So, you better today??? Let's hope so, huh?? otherwise you could be waist deep in kid fun.Hey was that snowman dispenser one you may have purchased at Walmart this season?? I ask because I bought one and it leaks icky gooey soap all over my powder room. It's quite gross. Of course I don;t have the receipt to return it. So a leaky icky, sticky soap dispener it shall be until next Wed, Dec 26.Have a great day!

It soundslike you my dear have an inner ear infection!! I'd get that checked out just in case, staying home day after day with all the kids will drive you insane. Maybe the oldest could drive...LOL....just kidding!! And Vertigo is a terrilble feeling. I get this feeling every time I take the stairs!!! Merry Christmas

just once I would LOVE to be sick and actually get a "sick" day!! I think I might even pay to be layed up on my back for a day or two!! I actually look forward to being in the hospital when I have a baby. You're not sick, you get pretty much anything you need, usually the nurses are really nice to you, and you have a sleepy lil baby to cuddle for the next two days. I encourage everyone to stay away until I come home with the baby!! It is like a vacation, except the whole givin birth part. But as you know after you do it a couple times it is a piece of cake. Maybe you should just have another baby. HAHAHA

Dawn, been there done that...well at least the vertigo minus the kids. You might have an inner ear infection. As a frequent sufferer of vertigo, I feel your pain. If you would really like to wipe out a day of your life, take some Dramamine. The "less drowsy" formula actually makes me want to sleep for a good 14 hours, and that's only taking half a pill.

I'm sorry to hear you had a hard day. When I'm not feeling well I am happy to get the kids off to school so I can have some peace and quiet. I'm surprised you didn't call a taxi for them to get there. Let's see, dizziness, nausea, lack of energy....pregnant?

Ahh, Vertigo. It's probably from the plane. I was sick with it for a month before I finally went to the dr. (we were also in Vietnam so I thought it was dehydration, nerves, among other various ailments. Plus I wasn't real eager to see a dr. there). A little decongestant can right your world for a little while anyway.

I had what you described for three days. Yesterday was the first day I felt better! I usually go to the doctor and they prescribe Antivert, but I couldn't drive myself. Instead I took two Benadryl every four hours, and that took the edge off. It didn't help completely, but I was able to sit up without wanting to throw up! I hope you feel better soon! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

My hubby has vertigo and takes Meclazine (I'm sure I butchered the spelling). You don't need a prescription but you do have to get it from the pharmacist. Take it at the first sign of dizziness and it should really help!

Dawn, I'm so sorry it hear you where so sick. Don't you have a neighbor or friend that could take the older ones to school? Or family to help with the little ones? I know what my house looks like when I'm down and I only have 2 boys. I hope your feeling better.

Isn't it the most horrible thing to sick while your kids run crazy?? It's like your body is saying "sleep, rest, recover" and that part of your brain that a Mom can never turn off, the part that hears a kids cough at night and know not only which kid it was but if it's a serious cough or not, that part of the brain says "do NOT go to sleep...you kids will destroy the house". So basically you spend the day wanting to rest, trying to rest, and wishing you could rest...and listening to you kids, and knowing exactly which kid is doing what, destroy your house!!

Dawn, you had vertigo! I had my first experience with it this summer, and it was AWFUL. Get thyself to the nearest Walgreens or other pharmacy and ask the pharmacist for Meclizine. It is very inexpensive, $10 for 100 tablets, and you don't need a prescription. If you ever have another episode, it will take care of it. I carry a few with me all the time.

Sounds like you have vertigo. I've had it twice now. The first time I was pretty sure I was dying, and should get my affairs in order pronto. I've never experienced anything so weird in all my life, except for having a wicked hangover - but since I hand't been drinking, I was puzzled. It's a good sign that you are able to post on your blog. I was in bed for three days the first time I got it. Yuck. Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.

Oh you poor thing. I had vertigo once. Prior to that, I thought people were crazy when they talked about it. I mean, honestly, how in the world can the room spin in at least three different directions at one time. Oh but it does! I layed in bed, unable to move and when I finally thought I got it all under control, I heaved.

I found out what caused it though. Apparently, I'm "sensitive" (because you can't be allergic too) the frangrances used in all candles, lotions, cleansers and perfumes/sprays. Yeah, nice eh? The girls at work were burning candles all the time and I always felt my chest getting heavy and my ears filling up. Well, my ears filled up with fluid from this sensitivity which, in turn, caused my vertigo. I avoid all things frangranced now.

Anyway, I so hope you feel better. I hope it isn't a precursor to a sinus infection, cold or worse.

That kind of thing scares me. My niece lives 1,000 miles away, closest kid I know. She came to visit for the summer at age 5, and I had to take care of her for a day.. After a day of swimming in the scorching sun, and fixing her lunch..*I* was ready for a nap! And she would not lay down, she wanted to chase the cats, and run up and down the stairs. I kept suggesting we watch Spongebob or whatever other cartoon was on.. And she would not stop. I finally called my mom and said.. "I need a nap, how do I take a nap with her being like this?" And it was a moment where it was obvious I don't have kids.. and she said "You don't." Oy. I can't imagine a sick day with 6 of them.

Oh, Dawn! I hope you're feeling better!! I know what you mean about how moms can never get sick... and I only have 2 kids, so I can only imagine (vividly, from your discriptions) what caring for 6 while sick must be like!

I have had a similar three days - my toddler is sick and unlike most children who just lay around when they are sick....he bounces off the walls as though he is looking for the cure...in the oven...nope....under the couch cushions...nope...in the kitchen drawers...nope...then the house ends up looking like it puked on itself and I literally just run myself ragged chasing and cleaning, chasing and cleaning!

It's so relaxing, lying around on the couch being ill, while the entire house is torn apart by the ravening hordes around you. Really. I do hope your husband had the sense not to ask what was for dinner.

I'm disappointed that you didn't include the quote, "We'd have a better chance of playing Pick-Up-Sticks with our butt cheeks than getting a flight out of here tonight."- John Candy in Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

Ug, I so know that feeling of dizzy to falling over even though you are not drunk. As a matter of fact thats about how I feel right about now. I didn't call in sick, just went to Lowes and shared my germs and now I still have to drive to pick up the youngest from preschool. Actually I feel worse now than I did when I first woke up, which is not a good sign. I hope we both feel better soon

Ick...sounds just like the inner-ear infection I had on vacation. The doc said something about already having fluid in my ear, then add pressure from airplane travel and a little bacteria from the pool I swam in (or maybe a finger stuck in my ear...) and voila. Inner-ear infection. I hate being so dizzy that I throw up.

First time I had vertigo I thought I would die. I couldn't stop throwing up and ended up in the emergency room with dehydration 8 months pregnant. Not fun. Having this with six kids running around is probably much worse. Interestingly enough, I had similar experience this Sunday, but I was lucky enough to be able to stay in bed most day. Feel better! (and stay away from salt as much as you can - I couldn't stop myself from giving advice, sorry)

I sooooo know what you mean. I am out of bed for the first time in two days. Ugh. The flu abounds around here, and my house is trashed. My sweet hubby did come home from work and take care of me though. He brought me chicken noodle soup and Sprite. God Bless him. I think now though, I will have to return the favor, as he and my oldest seem to have it now.

I just read about your "celebrity" status in the new issue of Redbook magazine. I had to check out your website. You are hilarious! Seriously, a great sense of humor. I have 2 kids and their bad days pale in comparison. Keep writing. I love the posts.

Sorry you aren't feeling well. I know what you mean about not being able to get sick. My fav is when my husband looks around and thinks I haven't done anything all day long. Of course wehn I leave for 2 hours to vegetate in the Wal-Mart aisles, my house gets ransacked by crazy people. Why is it that it looks worse after 2 hours with him than all day long with me? Hmmm, maybe I was doing something :) I just have to add as well, you simply can't do a movie quote trivia quiz that includes Better Off Dead, without including "I want my $2" :)

I too feel your pain! When I get vertigo or an inner ear infection I just lay in bed and if I have to go the the bathroom I have to crawl!!! I can't walk....if I try I just bounce off the walls! And it sounds like the kids were doing that! Last time I had it I was down for 2 days! Hubby was not happy!

So sorry you're not feeling well. Next time you travel by plane (and you will, just wait for the book tour), start taking Airborne three days before you fly and keep taking it until several days after you're home. While it doesn't always prevent a cold, it does make the symptoms less severe. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Dawn- I hope you are feeling better today. I have a question for your Sunday sound off....how much time do you spend reading other people's blogs on a regular basis and do you have a favorite (or two)?

Poor Dawn. I read the comments from your dizzy post, and I have to tell you something to keep your radar on about. I sincerely hope it's an ear infection or something else that is temporary, but I have Multiple Sclerosis and it is sometimes exhibited in the way you described. Just keep this info in your hip pocket in case they can't figure out what it is. You're in my thoughts and prayers.

Okay, one more trick for dealing with vertigo that has not been mentioned: a simple antihistamine. You can use benadryl (which you probably have on hand with so many youngsters), but if that makes you sleepy try one of the newer ones. I have dealt with this problem several times due to fluid in the middle ear, and the antihistamine dries up the fluid, relieving the pressure that causes the dizziness and nausea.

For a more homeopathic approach, you can also try some tea with ginger in it - ginger for the nausea, and tea to help clear congestion in the eustachian tubes so things can drain.

Good luck, and keep up the terrific blog! It's hilarious (not to mention great birth control) even for us childfree folks.

Hope you're feeling better. Just want to wish you and your family a blessed and Merry Christmas.I'd also like to thank you for the gift you've given to all of us - your faithful readers - the gift of yourself.I appreciate you every day.

ho ho ho - KR

ps And speaking of "your readers" - I've wondered which expression is more odd, funny, or unbelievable to you: My Readers ... or My Agent!

Oh I feel bad for you! Not only do you have to feel miserable but you have to clean up the mess when you are sick! Being a mom sometime's just isn't fair! Hopefully someday you will look back on this and well - thank them, for giving you material for good books!

My mom had 5 kids and used to faint every Christmas morning. From exhaustion. I decided to just have 2 kids but Stacie , my TX daughter went back to old traditions, (except for the fainting, I hope)and had 3 boys and 3 girls. Merry Christmas

I had those same symptoms. I took three pregnancy tests and luckily all three came back negative (I have a 7 month old baby, this would NOT be a good time to have another one.) I think there's a stomach bug going around.